title: Comparison of tamsulosin vs tamsulosin/sildenafil effectiveness in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in patients affected by type III chronic prostatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the effectiveness of tamsulosin monotherapy versus tamsulosin plus sildenafil combination therapy on erectile dysfunction (ED) in young patients with type III chronic prostatitis and ED by using symptom score scales.
  
  
  METHODS
  44 male patients were divided into 2 groups: the first group (20 patients) was treated with tamsulosin 0,4 mg monotherapy and the second one 24 patients) was treated with tamsulosin 0,4 mg plus sildenafil 50 mg combination therapy. “International Prostate Symptom Score, “National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index" (NIH-CPSI) and “International Index of Erectile Function" (IIEF-5) were investigated in each group of patients, and scores calculated during the first medical examination. Both groups were treated with tamsulosin once daily for 60 days, while sildenafil 50 mg was given on demand (at least 2 times per week) for 60 days. During the second medical examination IPSS, NIH-CPSI and IIEF-5 scores were analyzed once more. Afterwards, the alterations of scores among medical examinations in each group and between both groups were statistically compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age average of the 44 cases included was 32.04 3.15 years. Both groups present a statistically significant decrease, between the first and the second medical examination, in IPSS, NIH-CPSI scores and statistically significant increase in IIEF-5 score. In addition, there is no statistically significant difference, in all scores, between mono and combination therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  tamsulosin monotherapy, as well as a combination therapy (tamsulosin plus sildenafil) has an improving effect on symptoms and on ED in patients with type III prostatitis. In the near future alpha-blockers monotherapy could be used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis and ED cases instead of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors combination therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Azienda O.U. Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona. ubaldocantoro@tiscali.it.
authors.forename: Ubaldo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cantoro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catanzariti
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lacetera
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quaresima
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muzzonigro
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polito
mesh_terms: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077409:Tamsulosin; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D000077409:Tamsulosin